Developing Analytical Methods for Detecting Contaminants of Concern in Water Systems

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Browne, Kailey Carmen Elizabeth

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thesis

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eng

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Electrochemical sensor , Cyclic voltammetry , Square-wave voltammetry , Water , Phosphate , Heavy metals

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Abstract

Water quality monitoring of drinking, waste, ground and surface water is crucial within our society for the benefit of the environment and human health. Various chemical contaminants of water samples may cause concern to the public for aesthetic reasons, or for the prevention of adverse health effects. As a result, Health Canada has implemented guidelines regarding concentration limits of various inorganic contaminants in water systems. Consequently, accurate, efficient and cost-effective analytical methods for analyte determination in water samples is incredibly important. Conventional water analysis techniques utilize sophisticated techniques, including colorimetry, ion selective electrodes and spectroscopic methods. Although accurate and reliable, concerns may arise as they are quite expensive. Electrochemical sensors provide solutions are they are cost-effective, portable and user-friendly methods that can be tailored towards specific target analytes. This thesis explores the use of electrochemical processes and techniques for the application of chemical sensing in water samples. More specifically, the design and optimization of two electrochemical sensors with immobilized self-assembled monolayers for application in chemical sensing were performed. The first sensor utilized a pyridine-zinc(II) complex for the determination of phosphate ions, at an ultrasensitive scale. Within these studies, optimization of the monolayer and analysis on phosphate binding with the zinc metal center was performed. Analysis of tap and lake water samples was demonstrated with this sensor as well. The second sensor utilized a simple pyridine-terminated monolayer for Cd(II) determination in water. However, water coadsorption interferences were also observed. As a result, optimization of the sensor signal was completed with the aim to enhance the sensor’s performance. Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry, and surface characterization techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were employed in these investigations.

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